Shocking photos depict the wreckage left by heartless thieves after a smash-and-grab raid on a well-known community centre in Kingstanding .

The 610 on Kingstanding Road was completely ransacked during the early hours of Sunday, March 4, with offenders causing “thousands of pounds worth of damage”.

Senior youth worker Steve Joseph, who has worked at the 610 for 17 years, said: “They’ve ripped the safe open and stole about a month’s takings, booted the office door off its hinges and smashed the place up.

Photos following the raid at the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding

“They’ve emptied all the cupboards, drawers and filing cabinets; stole an iPad, a mobile phone and turned the place upside down. You’re talking thousands of pounds worth of damage.

“I’ve worked here for the past 17 years and I haven’t seen anything like this before.”

According to Steve, raiders disabled CCTV and the alarms before setting up upon their rampage.

Photos following the raid at the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding

The 610 Community Centre, meanwhile, is open seven days a week and offers a whole host of activities such as bowling, youth clubs, art classes, dog training, children’s parties and much more.

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Councillor for Oscott Keith Linnecor also spoke of his disgust, saying: “I am horrified that someone could break into one of these centres where the young people of Oscott and Kingstanding are so well looked after.

“It is extremely worrying that this sort of thing can happen.”

Photos following the raid at the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding

Addressing the raid, a spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Police were alerted on the morning of March 4 to an overnight break-in at a community centre in Kingstanding Road.

“An external door had been forced open and a fire extinguisher used to smash open internal office doors; a safe was stolen.